LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 387 
some difficulty in finding ground that has not already been fairly 
trodden, and besides which I feel sure that you will agree with 
me, considering that we have here our esteemed friend Professor 
Pritchard, that our time will be occupied with far more pleasure 
and profit listening to his lecture. 
I consider that the two most desirable objects of these Asso¬ 
ciations are the social elevation of its members, and the 
advancement of knowledge. 
It is daily becoming an acknowledged fact that our profession 
is of very great public utility aud importance, not only because 
our pleasures often depend upon the maintenance of the health of 
the horse, but that without him man could not have reached the 
present state of civilisation, nor have been able to overcome his 
numerous obstacles to his comfort and happiness. Chiefly, how¬ 
ever, it is important because the health and sustenance of our¬ 
selves are intimately associated with the prevention among, as 
well as devising and carrying out hygienic regulations in relation 
to, the flocks and herds upon which we depend for our daily food. 
Many changes have taken place in our profession during the 
past year; the most important to my mind is the union that, I 
suppose, is now about concluded between the holders of the High¬ 
land Society’s certificate and the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons. 
This, I think, will be the means of doing away with feelings on 
both sides that have been antagonistic to each other for a number 
of years, and whenever such exists, progress is sure to be impeded. 
We shall now be all one with the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons, which is the only chartered institution in Great 
Britain and Ireland that has authority to grant diplomas to 
students attending recognised schools, and which is not strictly 
an English institute but a national one. Therefore let us hope 
that, with our united efforts, the science and art of veterinary 
medicine may advance and flourish, and that we may be able to 
obtain powers to protect our interests by preventing unqualified 
persons from assuming the title of veterinary surgeon. 
In alluding to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act which has 
just come into operation, I may remark that the veterinary pro¬ 
fession has received far greater recognition than in the Act of 
1869, and with just claims to it. In the framing of the Act our 
profession was consulted far more than on the previous occasion, 
showing clearly that our usefulness is becoming more appre¬ 
ciated. More appointments have been made, but it is much to 
be regretted that those appointments, under the different local 
authorities, should not have been distinctly defined by the Act 
so that gentlemen possessing the diploma of the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons, or the certificate of the Highland 
Society, should only have been eligible, whereas, in some 
instances, unqualified practitioners are appointed. 
This being our first meeting of the year, I cannot allow the 
opportunity to pass without alluding to the deaths that have 
